Filing device



Dec. 3, 1940. M. c. DEW 2,223,978

FILING DEVICE Filed March 1, 1940 3m cntor Mmzcus C. DEW

(I norma s Patented Dec. 3, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a filing device and more especially to a means by which manuscripts, memorandum sheets, loose forms, or the like can be gripped and suspended vertically in any given order. In offices where a great many different forms are used, it is always a difficult problem to keep the forms filed or stored in a minimum of space and at the same time provide instant accessibility to any given form.

The problem of inserting these forms or files in the proper order or the problem of rearrangement of the files or forms is also frequently presout.

It is an object of this invention to provide a filing apparatus which will overcome the abovenamed obstacles. The device consists of a paper clip of well known design, with the exception that the upper grippers are slotted at an angle instead of merely having holes punched therethrough. These slots in the upper portion of the grippers are used on a rod or on an angle edge of a shelf so as to be easily insertable and slidable thereon.

It is another object of this invention to provide a filing device of the class described having an indicating tab secured thereto which will serve to identify a particular form and its subject matter.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is an isometric view showing a plurality of filing devices made in accordance with the present invention suspended from a shelf presenting an inclined supporting edge;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view through the shelf showing a file suspended therefrom;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view looking at the right-hand upper portion of Figure 2.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, the numeral I0 denotes a suitable shelf such as is commonly used in steel cabinets and the like, said shelf having integral therewith an inclined up-turned edge II. This edge is adapted to fit into inclined slots l2 and I3, said slots being disposed in the grippers l4 and 15, of jaws l6 and [1, respectively. The jaws l6 and i! have integral with the upper ends thereof, projections I8 and I9 respectively, the proximate faces of these upstanding projections being adapted to have inserted therebetween a ball 20 which acts as a pivot between the jaws. An arcuate spring 2| normally engages the upstanding projections 88 and I9 to serve to move the same towards each other and against opposed sides of ball 20. The free ends of spring 2| engages the projections at a point beneath the ball 29; consequently, the lower end of the jaws l6 and I! will normally move towards each other. A suitable form or manuscript 24 is adapted to be removably inserted between the lower ends of jaws l6 and ll where they are normally held in clamped position by virtue of the stress produced by the springs 2 I.

In order to provide a suitable identification means, the spring 2|, which is disposednearest the observer in Figure l, is adapted to have another arcuate member 25 fitting therearound, and

this arcuate member has an upstanding tab 28 integral therewith which is so positioned as to afford an easy view to the front surface thereof. This tab may have a number thereon or another indicating means which will serve to tell the contents as well as the order in which the files should be suspended from the shelf.

It is seen that a substantially close fit is provided between the edge II and slots [2 and I3. By having spaced slots in the grippers which slots are cut so as to provide a very slight clearance between the edge II and the slots, the forms or filing devices may be slid longitudinally of the shelf, but otherwise are held in substantially a stationary position. In other words, the file cannot rotate any substantial amount laterally or longitudinally of the shelf. This rigid position in which the file is held at all times is produced by virtue of the fact that the slots are inclined and also by virtue of the fact that there are two spaced slots having a substantially close fit about a fiat inclined angle edge. By holding the filing ap paratus in a substantially stationary position, the indicating tab 28 will also be properly positioned so that the indicia thereon can be easily read at all times.

In the drawing and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a filing device for suspending memorandums and the like and having a plurality of upwardly extending spaced hangers, said hangers each being provided with an angularly disposed edge notch, and a support presenting an inclined edge portion adapted to removably fit into said notches.

2. In combination, a support, a filing device on the support for suspending memorandums and the like, comprising a clip having spaced jaws provided with finger grips, said grips having narrow alined slots extending inwardly from the edges thereof for insertion over said support, said support presenting a flattened narrow edge portion removably fitting into the slots to prevent rotation of the clip in the planes of said grips.

MARCUS C. DEW. 

